Savage Ascension: Starting with God-Tier Plunder Ability-Chapter 88: Mocking Praise

Even though Rowan was rational, he inevitably had to find it irritating. It was no different from being punished for that sin with money rather than Espin’s fist.

"Huff. Huff."

To the robbers breathing roughly, he handed water with juice from wild fruit squeezed while passing through the forest hills.

"Th-thank you."

Preparations for bivouacking were made in an instant. Meanwhile, Rowan listened to the robbers’ stories. They all had one story each of how they fell to being robbers.

There was a case of having everything taken and being driven out after not listening to the village elder, and there were fugitives who couldn’t handle crimes committed in anger.

"Live as a criminal serf, develop social skills, and find a new life. If you don’t want to work, living by the sword with today’s experience wouldn’t be bad either."

When Rowan said that and pardoned all sins, he even told them to come find him. Because through the Tracking Mercenary Group’s first battle, the presence of arrow catchers was very significant.

"Really?"

It was a mercenary group that had subdued them in an instant. Rowan’s baby-faced look was not a reduction factor at all.

"If you cause trouble, immediate expulsion. You might have to kill your personality quite a bit."

Rowan even gave them a drink. The robbers received a separate campfire and went to sleep. They ate roughly and fell right asleep. Because they drank strong liquor to raise spirits, they could sleep easily.

About 3 steps away, among the Tracking Mercenary Group eating leisurely, Bearded Doren asked Rowan.

"Why are you treating them kindly? Aren’t they criminals?"

"What’s difficult about getting along outwardly? With this, at least one of those bastards will give up thoughts of escape. Connected as one, escape is impossible."

"About helping if they come find you...?"

"If they’ve really reformed, I should help."

He said that, but depending on the situation, Rowan would make another judgment. Because humans always change their judgment depending on the situation. It might have been something said meaninglessly to robbers in the first place. It was a conversation with robbers full of improvisation.

The rambling to humans he wouldn’t meet again would give nothing but mockery to robbers who’d come find him years later. At least outwardly it just looked like it went well. And that was precisely modern people’s way of getting along.

For right now. That vicious thing called empty words. Sometimes called lubricant, but if you think deeply, it was words that were nothing.

When Doren resolved his doubts, Crossbowman Bedri opened his mouth.

"Captain. I should be able to receive money for the plunder too, right?"

At those words, Rowan flatly refused.

"No. Giving daily wages is just money you receive for being together. Giving the robbers’ share is my consideration. For you who just hid while catching robbers, there’s no money to give beyond that."

"...I understand."

Unexpectedly, Bedri understood immediately. Perhaps thinking it was impossible to beat Rowan with words from the start, he seemed to have given up early.

When the Tracking Mercenary Group returned to the kingdom camp, the soldiers guarding the entrance noticeably congratulated the Tracking Mercenary Group. This was all because simple-minded Bearded Doren had talked too much about himself. Of course, he also learned about the kingdom camp that much, but Rowan could only give a hollow laugh.

"Yaaa! The greenhorn mercenary group did a big job! Capturing 4 robbers!"

Clap clap clap!

They tucked spears under their armpits and clapped frivolously and lightly.

Bearded Doren’s lips were soaring to heaven. It was mocking praise but he didn’t know it. He was just blinded by the first achievement.

Espin kept his cool while expressionlessly fiddling with the edge of his shield. Bedri’s expression wasn’t good. The soldiers soon noticed this mercenary group was wrapped up in complex problems.

"Ahem. I’ll guide you to the senior soldier."

He couldn’t meet Commander Gesilian Faerun, who he’d seen first. Instead, he had to meet a veteran soldier called a senior soldier. The position of senior soldier was like the commander’s adjutant because he could write.

The number of senior soldiers differed per commander. Because Commander Gesilian had one senior soldier, his power was greater than other senior soldiers. You could call it one-man authority.

"I’m Rowan of the Tracking Mercenary Group."

The senior soldier held out his hand. Unlike the word soldier, he looked like a civil official. Because his tent was full of parchment, and his skin was also white.

"I’m Senior Soldier Bulsheben. I heard quite a bit of talk. Since you’re a newbie mercenary group, we used you like a rag even last night as a drinking topic, but you bring achievements... Amazing."

"We were just lucky."

He said cliché words, but Bulsheben burst out laughing.

"Modest. Haha."

Rummaging through parchment, he picked one up and spread it on the table.

"It’s the 12th day today. Daily wage 500 coins, 4 robbers captured, 40 coins..."

Senior Soldier Bulsheben who drew a line at the top with a pen and wrote nodded while fixing the parchment with a wooden peg. It was to dry the ink.

"For the plunder, there’s a war merchant at the camp, so you can sell to him. Have the soldier outside guide you. Roben!"

"Yes!"

"Guide Mercenary Captain Rowan to the war merchant."

"Yes!"

Because new recruits handled most internal security, New Recruit Roben answered vigorously. Perhaps because he’d been pointed out by Bulsheben quite severely, he seemed to have fear of him.

"I’ll leave here. Thank you for everything."

With those words, Bedri disappeared from sight. He’d pack his luggage and leave. If he stole the Tracking Mercenary Group’s communal goods, knowing he’d have to pay the price, he’d only take his own things.

"Are you okay?"

At New Recruit Roben’s words, Rowan said. Rather, he felt relieved inside. He’d somehow put a period with an uncomfortable person.

"Yes. Let’s go to the war merchant. There’s a lot of luggage."

Doren and Espin pulled the cart and followed Rowan and Roben.